Kathmandu: The European Union (EU) has once again imposed a flight ban on all Nepalese airlines, preventing them from operating in European airspace. This decision is included in the latest update of the EU’s “Safety List,” which lists airlines and aviation service providers deemed unsafe to fly in European skies.
The ban applies to all Nepalese airlines, including both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter service providers. Notably, none of the airlines, including Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, currently operate flights to Europe, and the restriction means they cannot access European airspace, even for charter flights.
The EU has maintained this ban for nearly 11 years. The first such restriction was imposed in 2013, and since then, Nepalese airlines have remained on the EU’s Safety List, which bars them from entering European airspace. Efforts by Nepal’s aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), and the government to remove the country’s airlines from this list have so far been unsuccessful.
Experts suggest that one of the reasons for the continued ban is the failure to separate the roles of service provider and regulator in Nepal’s aviation sector. The EU has indicated that the country’s aviation regulatory body must adopt these reforms for the ban to be lifted.
Another theory points to Nepal’s acquisition of Chinese aircraft, which some claim may have contributed to the continued placement on the EU’s Safety List.
However, some argue that the impact of the EU ban is limited, as Nepalese airlines do not currently fly to European destinations. “As long as we don’t fly to Europe, the issue with the Safety List is less significant,” said an aviation expert. Nevertheless, in the future, if Nepal Airlines or Himalaya Airlines decide to operate international flights to Europe, they could face significant challenges due to this ongoing ban.